I Did It: Christel MacLean takes on Saratoga Springs

Crystal Clear

By Cari Scribner/Women@Work

Christel MacLean at one of her co-owned restaurants, the Circus Cafe

If there’s one word to describe Christel MacLean of Saratoga Springs, it’s vibrant. From her light-up-the-room smile, to her unfaltering optimism, to the new life she’s brought to mainstay Saratoga dining establishments such as Hattie’s and Sperry’s, MacLean is an entrepreneurial whirlwind.

Along with husband Colin MacLean, Christel owns two Saratoga Springs restaurants, the Circus Café and Sperry’s. She also runs a residential and commercial real estate company called Realty Saratoga, catering to private clients. MacLean is also a key player in promoting the city of Saratoga Springs and its businesses, as a member of the Downtown Business Association Board of Directors and co-vice president with Colin of the Saratoga Arts Festival Board of Directors. In one of her most important roles, MacLean is also mom to 8-year-old Lucy, and maintains active involvement in her daughter’s school, Division Street Elementary.

“I enjoy the adrenaline of having new ventures and keeping life exciting,” MacLean says. “I believe we control our own destiny, and I want to always make the most of the opportunities out there.”

MacLean’s background includes earning an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, an internship in development for the Joffrey Ballet Co., and taking on Wall Street working in corporate finance for Solomon Brothers.

What says “CIRCUS” MORE than cotton candy? The MacLeans’ fun-spirited café serves it in huge clouds as a dessert.

She then segued her career toward real estate, and after handling many hotel financing deals — one of which required her to live in London for six months — MacLean received her real estate broker’s license in 1989.

MacLean describes her company, Realty Saratoga, as a “boutique” realty firm. “We keep it small by design,” she says. “We have five or six deals going at a time. We don’t advertise; people seek us out. Helping people find a home or sell one is all about connections and relationships. I also infuse socializing as part of every venture.”

For instance, rather than holding a typical afternoon open house for her recent listing, a $2.5 million sprawling estate on Clinton Street in Saratoga Springs, MacLean orchestrated an elaborate party with live jazz and servers in black-tie attire.

“Real estate is an event,” MacLean says. “You have to make it special. You can really impact people’s lives by being involved in the process.”

The story of how the city of Saratoga Springs was lucky enough to attract MacLean as a new business owner and resident begins in 1993. Christel and Colin MacLean, who lived in New York City, were at their weekend home in Greenwich. A friend took Christel to lunch at the iconic Hattie’s Chicken Shack on Phila Street, known in Saratoga Springs and across the greater Capital Region for its southern-style fried chicken and its revered owner, Hattie, who was 92 years old at the time. Christel sat down with Hattie and had a heart-to-heart about the future of the restaurant, one of the gems of the local area. After watching Hattie’s health decline over the next year, Christel decided to buy the restaurant, despite living in New York City and working on Wall Street.

“I realized what was missing here was a really fun place with a kid’s atmosphere, but where adults could get a drink and good food,” says MacLean. Her idea for Circus Café was a completely new concept for Saratoga.

“I have a deep commitment to maintaining continuity of places like Hattie’s that meant so much to the city for so many years,” MacLean says. “It’s the kind of place you’d hate to see close or re-opened as something entirely different.”

Christel and Colin MacLean moved to Saratoga Springs and not only maintained but also brought new life to Hattie’s, which they ran until it was sold in 2001. The couple then headed back to New York City for two years, but returned to start a family and launch a new restaurant.

In 2004, on their daughter Lucy’s first birthday, the MacLeans held the grand opening of their Circus Café in the former Margarita’s restaurant on Broadway.

Sitting in a comfortable booth inside the café, MacLean seems well-suited to running a fun, festive, family-oriented restaurant. The walls are cheerful orange and shades of blue, huge chandeliers and silver ornaments hang from the ceiling, vintage Ringling Bros. posters decorate the walls, and framed T-shirts offer sayings such as “I Tame Lions,” “Trapeze is my Art,” and “I Work for Candy.” The café is known for its fabulous food and events such as karaoke and open mic nights.

“We go down to (New York) city frequently, and I love to look around and see what’s popular,” MacLean says. “We could bop into 20 places in one night. I realized what was missing here was a really fun place with a kid’s atmosphere, but where adults could get a drink and good food. This was a completely new concept for Saratoga. After the first year, it really took off.”

Today, Lucy delights in bringing friends and classmates to Circus Café, something MacLean applauds. “It’s a positive thing for her to identify what her parents do for work,” MacLean says. “I want her to see us as working hard but also being involved with her.”

In 2010, the owner of Sperry’s Restaurant, another landmark in Saratoga Springs, contacted MacLean to list the property through Saratoga Realty. “I showed it to people who said they wanted to turn it into a pizza place, or some other kind of restaurant, and I really felt it should remain Sperry’s, which has a name for itself and a reputation in town,” MacLean says. “We bought it and put in red leather booths and paneling. Colin worked all summer on a new courtyard patio and a dining tent with chandeliers. We’ve done the place justice.”

A firm believer in encouraging others to reach their potential, MacLean is part of the Skidmore College Mentoring Project, and teaches a class on entrepreneurship for the college’s management and business department.

“I show students how to look at businesses and opportunity, to know the competition and the assets,” MacLean says. “My advice is to always do your homework. Know your audience. Learn everything you can in advance. Be prepared!”

Animated, articulate and energetic, MacLean says she limits herself to two cups of coffee a day, sleeps about six hours, and relaxes by reading mysteries and biographies of successful people. She also does pilates and collects etiquette books and cookbooks, although she has little time for gourmet cooking these days.

When asked about her next business venture, MacLean gives a wide smile. “I decided I needed to be in charge and be self-supporting, and live the lifestyle I wanted,” MacLean says. “There’s more than one track to get where you want to be. Look at things with a positive attitude and anything can happen.”

Christel MacLean’s Top 10 Tips for Success:

1. Be organized. Find a system that works for you and do your best to keep your promises and fulfill your obligations. Make it a habit!

2. When interviewing or looking forward to an important meeting: Be prepared: make notes and memorize the key points you want to get across.

3. Keep an open mind. You never know what opportunities are around the corner.

4. Keep a positive frame of mind. Avoid naysayers.

5. Focus on improving your business and not on who you perceive to be your competition.

6. Listen to advice from others but ultimately trust your instincts.

7. Read as much as possible! Stay abreast of current events and industry trends by reading local/national newspapers and business/trade publications.

8. Give back! Mentor or volunteer to help those who can benefit from your experience.

10. Create quiet time to free-associate and brainstorm new ideas and improvements.

I Did It is a regular feature about a local entrepreneur who took the leap to create her own company. If you would like to be considered or know a company that would be profile-worthy, send an e-mail to jreynolds@timesunion.com.